Level: 2
Tuning: Open C

This arrangement has an interesting story. In 1964 I heard Steve Arkin frail a beautiful version of "House Carpenter" on banjo. As I was just trying to learn how to frail I asked Steve if he could teach me his arrangement. His banjo was tuned to an Open C tuning. I couldn't quite grasp the technique of double thumb frailing that Steve was using. So in order to retain the melody in my mind I decided to arrange it on guitar and later to attempt it on banjo. "House Carpenter" has a beautiful melody and the Open C tuning adapts to this well. Using an alternating bass in Open C creates a drone like quality which adds to the haunting beauty of this ballad.